Bottle washing machine



' July 22, 1958 I Filed Aug. 20, 1956 c. GRAY, SR 2,843,867

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheei 1 INVENTOR.

l l J, .100

July 22, 1958 c. GRAY, SR 2,343,867

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1956 Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 w JO 3a (I 1": 24 a 15 um \g lgn IN V EN TOR. C 016/1442 /U.f' file/1 3/6.

July 22, 1958 c. GRAY, SR 2,843,867

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE File d Aug. 20, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VENI '(IR. 6001 42/05 6244 5e.

July 22, 1958 c. GRAY, SR

BOTTLE. WASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 20. 1956 irraeA/zs s.

July 22, 1958 c. GRAY, sR'

BOTTLE WASHING momma 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 20, 1956 INVENTOR. COi/VJZ/UJ' GAEflV, .sae.

July 22, 1958 Filed Aug. 20,, 1956 c. GRAY, SR 2,843,867

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE V 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. C'Ofi/VA'Z/US 616/? 53% United States Patent Ofiice Patented July 22, 1958 BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Cornelius Gray, Sr., Mar Vista, Calif., assignor of fortyfive percent to Robert B. Gray, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 20, 1956, Serial No. 604,973

11 Claims. (Cl. 15-64) This invention relates to bottle washing machines, and has particular application to the washing of nursing bottles in hospitals. Included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a bottle washing machine which is particularly compact to permit its use in places where space is limited, and which may be operated intermittently to wash only a few bottles or continuously to wash a large number.

Second, to provide a bottle washing machine which incorporates a novelly arranged scrubbing unit, operating internally as well as externally, so that all parts of the bottle are thoroughly cleaned even though, as in the case of nursing bottles, a tenacious film is present within the bottle.

Third, to provide a bottle washing machine which is particularly safe to use even by an inexperienced person, as means is provided to shut off the machine should the bottles be misplaced or the operators hand not be with drawn when the machine is advancing the bottles from station-to-station in the course of washing the bottles.

Fourth, to provide a bottle washing machine which once a bottle is inserted, it must pass through an entire scrubbing, sterilizing, and rinsing cycle before it may be removed.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the bottle washing machine with a portion of the housing broken away to expose the station at which the bottle is scrubbed and with the piping leading to the rinsing station omitted to simplify the illustration;

Figure 2 is a side view taken opposite the rinsing station with the washing structure omitted to simplify the illustration;

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view taken from the line 33 of Fig. 1, with the rinsing station piping omitted;

Fig. 4 is a plan view taken from the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with the washing mechanism removed;

Fig. 5 is a partial side view, partial sectional view, taken from the direction of the loading and unloading station, showing particularly the turntable mechanism and drive motor;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view, partial plan view, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing particularly the drive motor and indexing mechanism for the turntable;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 7-7 of Fig. 6 showing the indexing mechauism;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 9-9 of Fig. 4, showing the safety clutch mechanism between the drive assembly and the bottle advancing assembly;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through 11-11 of Fig. 1, showing the external bottle scrubbing mechanism with a bottle shown in its depressed position within the scrubbing chamber;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view through 12--12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a reduced sectional view taken in substantially the same plane as Fig. 11, but showing the bottle in its raised position above the scrubbingcompartment and showing the plunger assembly for depressing the bottle;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view through 14--14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a further enlarged view showing the internal scrubbing mechanism in elevation and showing a surrounding bottle in section, and also showing adjacent portions of the bottle depressing mechanism in section, the internal scrubbing mechanism being shown, in its expanded or operating position;

Fig. 16 is a similar view showing the internal scrubbing mechanism in its radially collapsed position for insertion or withdrawal through the mouth of the bottle;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the internal scrubbing mechanism taken through 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view through 18-18 of Fig. 2 showing the bottle rinsing station;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view through 19-19 of Fig. 4, showing the loading and unloading station.

The bottle Washing machine includes a cylindrical housing structure 1 having a base 2 and a cylindrical shell 3. The lower portion of the housing 1 is divided by walls to form a motor compartment 5, which is defined by walls converging from the shell 3 and embracing the central portion of the housing structure 1. That portion of the housing structure externally of the motor compartment walls is thus semiannular and is divided by a partition into a washing compartment 6 and a drain compartment 7. The compartments are covered by a horizontal deck 8. Above thedeck 8 there is formed a cylindrical turntable chamber 9, over which is positioned a cover 10.

A turntable motor 11 is mounted in the motor compartment 5. The motor is provided with a shaft 12 on which is mounted an intermittent gear 13, shown best in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. Three operating stations are provided so that it is desirable to advance the turntable a third of a revolution and then dwell, in order that the appropriate operations may take place at each station. Consequently the intermittent drive gear 13 is: provided with teeth occupying a third of its periphery.

The intermittent drive gear 13 engages a driven gear 14 mounted on a shaft 15. Also mounted on the shaft 15 is an indexing disk 16 having three peripheral notches 17. These notches are engaged in sequence by a pin 18 supported by a slide plate 19 slidably guided by the shaft 15.

Mounted on the hub of the intermittent drive 13 is a cam lug 20 which engages a follower boss 21 depending from the slide plate 19.

A spring 22 urges the pin 18 into the notches 17. The motor shaft 12 turns continuously; however, the shaft 15 moves a third of a revolution each time the gears 13 and 14 interengage. Just prior to engagement of the gears the cam-lug 20 engages the follower boss 21 to move the slide plate 19 so as to disengage the pin 18 from a corresponding notch 17, as indicated best in Fig. 8. Between interengagement of the gears 13 and 14.the pin 18 locks the shaft 15 in a predetermined position.

The shaft 15 extends upwardly through the deck 8 and is supported by a bearing 23 joined by radiating webs 24 to the surrounding deck 8. At its juncture with the webs 24 the deck 8 is provided with an upwardly directed cylindrical guard shell 25. V 7

Above the guard shell 25 the shaft 15 receives a collar 26. At its upper end the collar is provided with a radiating pin guide 27 in which is slidably mounted a clutch pin 28 adapted to engage a groove or keyway 29 formed in the upper portion of the shaft 15 The clutch pin is normally held in the keyway 29 by a spring 30.

In the event of over load which would cause disengagement of the clutch pin 28 from the keyway 29, it is desirable to disconnect the motor 11. This is accomplished by a switch 31 suitably supported from the collar 26, shown diagrammatically in Figs. 4, 9, and 10.

The switch 31 is electrically connected through conductors 32 to contact rings 33. The contact rings 33 are suitably connected electrically with the motor 11 through contact means 33a, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 4. The contact rings are mounted on an insulated sleeve 34.

Extending from the collar 26 are radiating arms 35 which terminate in bottle holding rings 36, the axes of which are parallel to the shaft 15. Each of the bottle holding rings is adapted to receive a bottle B disposed with its mouth M directed downwardly and resting on the deck 8. The bottle holding rings and previously described structure which mechanically connects the motor 11 constitute the turntable mechanism.

The radiating arms 35 are joined by a circular guard ring 37, the lower margin of which overlies the guard shell 25 and the upper margin of which fits within a guard flange 38, depending from the cover 10. By this arrangement any moisture present within the annular turntable chamber surrounding the guard ring 37 is prevented from entering the motor compartment.

At a station located above the motor compartment the cover it) is provided with an aperture 39. The bottle holding rings 36 are exposed in sequence under the aperture 39. This location constitutes the loading and unloading station of the machine at which a clean bottle is manually removed and a soiled bottle is inserted. To facilitate manual engagement with the bottles, the deck 8 is provided with a lifting cam 40 as shown in Fig. 19. The location and height of the lifting cam is such as to raise each bottle slightly above the level of the cover lit so that the bottom end may be readily grasped.

The bottle washing machine as herein described is particularly designed for the washing of nursing bottles, such as the standard oz. nursing bottle having a reduced mouth. It is essential for the washing operation that the bottle be placed mouth downward. In order to prevent operation of the machine should the bottle be inserted mouth upward, there is provided at the trailing side of the aperture 39 a safety bar 41 which is engaged by the mouth end of the bottle should the bottle be placed wrong side up, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 19. This is accomplished by providing a channel 42 in the cam 40 which accommodates the mouth to allow the bottle to descend if the bottle is in its proper position. Otherwise the margins of the channel support the bottom of the misplaced bottle so as to cause the mouth of the bottle to engage the safety bar 41.

The safety bar 41 is connected by a lever 43 to a switch 44 which is opened whenever the safety bar 41 is engaged. The switch 44 is suitably connected by electrical means, not shown, with the turntable motor 11. A spring 45 holds the safety bar 41 in its normal position.

It will be observed that if the operator should fail to withdraw her hand prior to movement of the turntable, she will engage the safety bar 41 and shut off the motor. Also the sa ety bar may be deliberately engaged for this purpose. it should also be observed that the turntable motor ill is preferably of the type having a brake incorporated therein, which stops the motor immediately upon disconnection of the motor support so that there is no appreciable overtravel after the safety bar 41 has opened the switch 44.

Located a third of a revolution from the aperture 39, which defines the loading and unloading station, is a scrubbing station. At this station the cover 10 supports a vertically extending mounting post 46 having a guide bearing 47 in which is slidably mounted a vertically extending rack 48, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 13. T he rack is engaged by a gear 49 mounted on a shaft 50 and driven by a motor 51 supported at one side of the post 46. The rack 48 is tubular and receives a rotatable shaft 52 which is restrained against axial movement relative to the rack 48 by means of collars 53 and thrusting bearings 54.

The upper end of the shaft 52 protrudes from the rack 48 and is splined to receive a gear 55 which is held against axial movement by a bearing bracket 56. The gear 55 is driven by a pinion gear 53 which is driven by a motor 59 supported from the mounting post 46.

The lower end of the shaft 52 is equipped with a bottle driving disk 60, preferably formed of rubber or other material which affords frictional engagement with the bottom of an inverted bottle, as shown best in Figs. 1, ll, 13 and 15. The disk 60 is adapted to move downwardly through an aperture 61 provided in the cover 10 and an aligned aperture 62 provided in the deck 8. The diameter of the disk 60 is such as to pass through the bottle holding rings 36.

Mounted within the washing or scrubbing compartment 6, which underlies the scrubbing station, is a bottle supporting plate 63 which is provided with end lugs 64 slidably mounted on guide rods 65. Springs 66 urge the bottle supporting plate 63 upwardly. The bottle supporting plate is adapted to occupy a normal position within the aperture 62 and with its upper surface flush with the deck 8.

The bottle supporting plate 63 is provided with an aperture 67 of a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the mouth of the bottle so that the mouth of the bottle may be supported by its margin on the plate 63. The upper surface of the plate surrounding the aperture 67 may be slightly depressed and lined with a bearing ring 68, preferably formed of material offering a minimum of frictional engagement with the mouth of the bottle, so that the bottle may be rotated thereon when driven by the disk 60.

The motor 51, which drives the rack 48, forces the disk 66 downwardly against a bottle located at the scrubbing station and forces the bottle downwardly through the holding rings 36, depressing the plate 63 against the force of the springs 66 until the bottle is submerged within the washing and scrubbing compartment 6, as shown best in Fig. 11.

Located within the washing and scrubbing compartment 6 is an external brush assembly 69 which includes an external brush element 70 disposed longitudinally and contoured to conform to the external contour of the bottle.

The external brush element 70 is mounted on a backing plate 71 which is connected by pairs of link mem bers 72 to a mounting bar 73 secured to the side wall of the washing and scrubbing compartment. By reason of the link members 72 the external brush element 70 is held in vertical position and is movable outwardly and downwardly from the wall of the compartment to engage the external surface of the bottle. This move ment is accomplished by a yoke arm 74 having wheels 75 which are engaged by the underside of the bottle sup porting plate 63 as the plate is depressed.

Thus as the bottles reaches its lower position, shown in Fig. 11, the external brush element 70 is brought into engagement with the bottle, and as the bottle is raised therefrom the brush element moves laterally clear of the bottle, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 11. A spring 76 normally holds the external brush element 70 in its upper and laterally displaced position.

Also mounted within the washing and scrubbing compartrnent 6 is an internal brush assembly 77, as shown best in Figs. 15, 16, and 17. The internal brush assembly includes a post 78 disposed coaxially with the shaft 52. Mounted on the post 78 is a brush supporting mandrel 79 flattened on two sides and having its maximum width dimensioned so as to enter the mouth of the bottle.

The mandrel 79 is provided with a longitudinal bore in which is slidably mounted a stem 88 which is urged upwardly by a spring 811, upward movement being limited by a stop 82 provided at the lower end of the stem. The stem 80 protrudes upwardly from the mandrel 79 and is provided with a transversely disposed bristle support 83 on which is mounted a bristle element 84 pro portioned to enter the mouth of the bottle.

Pivotally mounted on the flat sides of the mandrel 79 is a pair of upper link members 85 and lower link members 86. Each upper and corresponding lower link member supports a mounting plate 87 which, by reason of the link members, is adapted to move laterally to and from a flat side of the mandrel. in their laterally inner positions, the two mounting plates clear the mouth of the bottle so that the mandrel with its mounting plates may be inserted into and withdrawn from the bottle. Each mounting plate carries a bristle element 88 contoured to conform substantially to the interior of the bottle.

The upper link members 85 are provided with slots 89 through which extends a transverse operating pin 90, extending through the stem 8t), and guided by vertical slots 91 in the mandrel '79. With this arrangement the spring '81 normally holds the stem 88 in an upper position relative to the mandrel and holds the bristle mounting plates 87 and bristle elements 88 in their laterally retracted positions, shown in Fig. 16. When the bristle element 84 engages the bottom of the inverted bottle, as shown in Fig. 15, the operating pin 90 is depressed, forcing the link members 85 outwardly to cause the bristle element to engage the walls of the surrounding bottle, as shown in Fig. 15.

In order that air may be displaced from within the inverted bottle, the mandrel 79 and post 78 are provided with a bleed passage 92, which leads to a point externally of the washing and scrubbing compartment, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 15.

In order to operate the motors 51 and 59 intermittently, the shaft 12 of the motor 11 is provided with a pair of cams 12a which operate switches 12b, as indicated in Fig. 5. The position and shape of the cams and the electrical connections between the switches and their motors are such that the rack is first driven downward, then returned to its initial position, the motor 51 being reversible. The motor 59 may operate intermittently or continously.

A third or rinsing station is located abovev the drain compartment 7. At this station, as shown best in Fig. 19, there is provided a lower spray nozzle 93 located below the deck 8 and discharging upwardly through an aperture 94. This portion of the deck is provided with drain holes 95 so that the rinse water may drain into the drain compartment 7. The water from the nozzle 93 discharges upwardly and rinses the inside of the bottle.

Located at the rinsing station in the cover is an upper nozzle 96 which discharges downwardly on the inverted bottle. The upper nozzle 96 is connected to a hot water supply line 97 through a valve 98. The lower spray nozzle 93 is connected with the supply line 97 through a branch line 99 and valve 180. A branch line 101 leads from the supply line 97 through a faucet 102 which discharges into the washing and scrubbing compartment 6. Located in this compartment is an overflow pipe 1033, indicated in Fig. 1.

The mechanism located above the cover 10 may be concealed in a suitable enclosure, not shown.

Operation of the bottle washing machine is as follows:

Water and detergent are supplied and maintained in the washing and scrubbing compartment. 6. The motor 11 may operate continuously. Under these condtions the turntable moves intermittently one-third of a revolution, disposing the bottle holding rings 36 at the loading and unloading station, the washing and scrubbing station, and the rinsing station, respectively.

The operator places bottles with their mouth ends downward in the rings 36 as they dwell at the loading and unloading station, previously washed bottles first being removed. During the dwell period at the washing station a circuit through the motors 51 and 59 is closed to advance the rack 48 and rotate the shaft 52, so that the bottle is moved downwardly into the washing and scrubbing compartment 6 and rotated.

As described previously, the bottle supporting plate 63 causes the external brush element 70 to engage the rotating bottle as the bottle reaches its lower position. Simultaneously, the bristle element 84 engages the bottom of the inverted bottle causing the link members to laterally extend the bristle elements 88 for engagement with the internal side walls of the bottle. Upon reverse move ment of the rack, the bristle elements 88 are retracted and the bristle element 70 moves clear of the bottle, so that the bottle may be returned to the bottle holding ring 36 for movement to the rinsing station. At this station the nozzles 93 and 96 rinse the bottle. The rinsed bottle then moves to the loading and unloading station where it is manually removed.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their aformation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle washing machine, comprising: a rotatable structure having bottle receiving and guiding rings arranged in a circle for movement about a common axis, each ring adapted to receive an inverted bottle placed axially therein; means for driving said rotatable structure intermittently to cause bottles contained in said rings to dwell at preselected stations; a platform under said structure for supporting the mouth ends of said bottles; a housing enclosing said structure and having a bottle loading and unloading aperture at one of said stations; a washing compartment under said platform, said platform having an access aperture for axial movement of said bottles into said washing compartment; and a bottle scrubbing means including means for moving said bottle axially from its retaining ring into said compartment, means for rotating said bottle, and internal and external brush elements engageable with the surfaces of said bottle.

2. A bottle washing machine, comprising: a rotatable structure having bottle receiving and guiding rings arranged in a circle for movement about a common axis, each ring adapted to receive an inverted bottle placed axially therein; means for driving said rotatable structure intermittently to cause bottles contained in said rings to dwell at preselected stations; a platform under said structure for supporting the mouth ends of said bottles; a housing enclosing said structure and having a bottle loading and unloading aperture at one of said stations; a washing compartment under said platform, said platform having an access aperture for axial movement of said bottles into said washing compartment; a bottle scrubbing means including an external brush element, means operable on moving said bottle into and out of said washing compartment for moving said external brush element into and out of engagement with said bottle, internal brush elements, means operable to contract said internal brush elements for movement into and out of said bottle and to expand said internal brush elements for engagement with the surrounding walls of the bottle; and means at still another of said stations for rinsing said bottles.

3. A bottle washing machine, comprising: a rotatable structure having bottle receiving and guiding rings ar ranged in a circle for movement about a common axis, each ring adapted to receive an inverted bottle placed axially therein; means for driving said rotatable structure intermittently to cause bottles contained in said rings to dwell at preselected stations; a platform under said structure for supporting the mouth ends of said bottles; a housing enclosing said structure and having a bottle loading and unloading aperture at one of said stations; control means at one margin of said loading and unloading aperture engageable to stop said driving means; a Washing compartment under said platform, said platform having an access aperture for axial movement of said bottles into said Washing compartment; a bottle scrubbing means including an external brush element, means operable on moving said bottle into and out of said washing compartment for moving said external brush element into and out of engagement with said bottle, internal brush elements, means operable to contract said internal brush elements for movement into and out of said bottle and to expand said internal brush elements for engagement with the surrounding walls of the bottle; and means at still another of said stations for rinsing said bottles.

4. A washing machine for bottles having mouths smaller than their bodies, comprising: a rotatable structure having bottle receiving and guiding rings arranged in a circle for movement about a common axis, each ring adapted to receive a bottle; means for driving said totatable structure intermittently to cause said rings to dwell at a plurality of stations; 21 platform under said rings for supporting said bottles in their respective rings; a housing enclosing said structure and having a bottle loading and unloading aperture at one of said stations; control means at said station engageable to stop rotation of said rotatable structure; and means at said loading and unloading station for raising inverted bottles as they approach said station and lowering inverted bottles as they pass said station, said means being arranged to direct uninverted bottles into engagement with said control means to stop movement of said rotatable structure.

5. A washing machine for bottles having mouths srnailer than their bodies, comprising: a rotatable structure having bottle receiving and guiding rings arranged in a circle for movement about a common axis, each ring adapted to receive a bottle; means for driving said rotatable structure intermittently to cause said rings to dwell at a plurality of stations; a platform under said rings for supporting said bottles in their respective rings; a housing enclosing said structure and having a bottle loading and unloading aperture at one of said stations; control means at said station engageahle to stop rotation of said rotatable structure; means at said loading and unloading station for raising inverted bottles as they approach said station and lowering inverted bottles as they pass said station, said means being arranged to direct uninverted bottles into engagement with said control means to stop movement of said rotatable structure; a washing compartment under said platform, said platform having an access aperture for axial movement of said bottles into said washing compartment; a bottle scrubbing means including an external brush element, means operable on moving said bottle into and out of said washing compartment for moving said external brush element into and out of engagement with said bottle, internal brush elements, means operable to contract said internal brush elements for movement into and out of said bottle and to expand said internal brush elements for engagement with the surrounding walls of the bottle;

and means at still another of said stations for rinsing said bottles.

6. A washing machine for bottles having mouths smaller than their bodies, comprising: a rotatable structure having bottle receiving and guiding rings arranged in a circle for movement about a common axis, each ring adapted to receive a bottle; means for driving said rotatable structure intermittently to cause said rings to dwell at a plurality of stations; a platform under said rings for supporting said bottles in their respective rings; a housing enclosing said structure and having a bottle loading and unloading aperture at one of said stations; control means at said loading and unloading station engageable to stop rotation of said rotatable structure;

means in the region of said station for guiding inverted bottles as they move from said station in a path clearing said control means and for guiding uninverted bottles into engagement with said control means to stop said rotatable structure; a washing compartment under said platform, said platform having an access opening defining a washing station and communicating with said washing compartment; means at said washing station for rotating and moving a bottle axially into and out of said washing compartment; a radially expansible internal bottle scrubbing unit in said washing compartment, said unit normally occupying a radially contracted position for passage through the mouth of the bottle, and means for expanding said internal bottle scrubbing unit on descent of a bottle into said washing compartment; and an external bottle scrubbing unit in said washing compartment, movable laterally to and from engagement with a bottle, and means for moving said external scrubbing unit into engagement with a bottle on descent of a bottle into said washing compartment.

7. A bottle washing machine, comprising: means for intermittently conveying a series of bottles; a washing compartment; means for moving bottles between said conveying means and said compartment; means for rotating a bottle while held by said bottle moving means; an external bottle scrubbing unit in said washing compartment and movable laterally to and from scrubbing engagement with a bottle; means operable on movement of a bottle into said washing compartment to move said external scrubbing unit into engagement with a bottle; an internal bottle scrubbing unit in said washing compartment, said internal bottle scrubbing unit being radially contractible to enter a bottle and radially expansible to engage the interior thereof; and means operable on movement of a bottle in said washing compartment to expand said internal scrubbing unit into engagement with the interior of a bottle.

8. A bottle washing machine, comprising: a rotatable structure having a plurality of bottle receiving rings disposed with their axes vertical; a platform for supporting bottles retained in said rings; a washing compartment below said platform, said platform having an access opening communicating with said compartment; means for moving a bottle axially between a bottle receiving ring and said compartment; means for rotating a bottle while held by said bottle moving means; an external bottle scrubbing unit in said washing compartment and movable laterally to and from scrubbing engagement with a bottle; means operable on movement of a bottle into said washing compartment to move said external scrubbing unit into engagement with a bottle; an internal bottle scrubbing unit in said Washing compartrnent, said internal bottle scrubbing unit being radially contractible to enter a bottle and radially expansible to engage the interior thereof; and means operable on movement of a bottle in said washing compartment to expand said internal scrubbing unit into engagement with the interior of a bottle.

9. A bottle washing machine, comprising: a rotatable structure having a plurality of bottle receiving rings disposed with their axes vertical; a platform for supporting bottles retained in said rings; a washing compartment below said platform, said platform having an access opening communicating with said compartment; a yieldably mounted bottle retainer normally seated in said aperture to support an inverted bottle; an axially movable and rotatable plunger mounted above said retainer for coacting with said retainer to clamp a bottle endwise and move a bottle between a bottle receiving ring and said washing compartment; an external bottle scrubbing unit in said washing compartment and movable laterally to and from scrubbing engagement with a bottle; means operable on movement of a bottle into said washing compartment to move said external scrubbing unit into engagement with a bottle; an internal bottle scrubbing unit in said washing compartment, said internal bottle scrubbing unit being radially contractible to enter a bottle and radially expansible to engage the interior thereof; and means operable on movement of a bottle in said washing compartment to expand said internal scrubbing unit into engagement with the interior of a bottle.

10. A bottle washing machine, comprising: a washing compartment; means for moving a bottle into and out of said washing compartment; means for rotating said bottle while in said washing compartment; an external scrubbing unit, including a support member disposed laterally of a bottle held by said means in said washing compartment, a brush element engageable with the side of said bottle, link means connecting said brush element and support, and means operable on final movement of a bottle into said washing compartment for urging said brush element into engagement with said bottle.

11. A bottle washing machine, comprising: a washing compartment; means for moving a bottle into and out of said washing compartment; means for rotating said bottle While in said washing compartment; an external scrubbing unit, including a support member disposed laterally of a bottle held by said means in said washing compartment, a brush element engageable with the side of said bottle, link means connecting said brush element and support, and means operable on final movement of a bottle into said washing compartment for urging said brush element into engagement with said bottle; an internal scrubbing unit including, a mandrel arranged to enter the mouth of an inverted bottle as said bottle is moved into said washing compartment, a pair of blades on opposite sides of said mandrel, link means connecting said blades for lateral expansion and contraction relative to said mandrel, side brush elements carried by said blades and engageable, when said blades are expanded, with the surrounding walls of said bottle, an end brush element at an axial end of said mandrel engageable with the bottom of a bottle, and yieldable mounting means for said end brush element operatively connected with said link means and blades to effect lateral expansion of said side brush elements upon engagement of said end brush element with the bottom of a bottle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,351 Schreiber et a1. Oct. 29, 1901 734,015 Valerius July 21, 1903 794,533 Murback July 11, 1905 817,337 Purdy Apr. 10, 1906 

